All Chinas against Japan's occupation of Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands
Hong Kong (AsiaNews) - Nationalism is bringing together Chinese on the mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau against Japan for daring to occupy the Diaoyu Islands (known as Senkaku in Japan). Four days ago, 14 people from China, Taiwan and Hong Kong sailed towards the islands in East China Sea. Some of them were able to swim ashore to one of the islands where they planted flags and banners. Taiwan's flag, usually despised on the mainland, floated freely in the wind alongside that of the People's Republic.
Five swimmers who reached the island were taken to Okinawa. The other nine should arrive today. All of them will be deported to Hong Kong if all they did was to carry out this "invasion."
The Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands include five islands and three atolls in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. China has however claimed sovereignty over them, a situation that has caused ups and downs in the relationship between Asia's two main economic powers.
The islands' value is uncertain. It might be of strategic importance because of its location near important shipping lanes. Others believe it has rich fishing grounds with important gas reserves. What is certain is that it is a hotspot for Chinese and Japanese nationalists.
Yesterday, Tokyo and Beijing lodged protests against each other. Japanese activists are planning to travel to the islands next weekend.
In Beijing, Hong Kong, Taipei and Macau, demonstrations were held in front of Japanese embassies and consulates. In Beijing, the protest was not stopped or repressed as is usually the case for other activists.
On mainland China, newspapers are full of editorials threatening Japan. For the People's Daily, China would not hesitate to "eradicate Japan's illusion to get control of the Diaoyu Islands". The Global Times warned instead that "Japan must abandon the illusion that China will retreat in the face of Tokyo's provocation".
Some observers, less involved in the issue, note that both Beijing and Tokyo need this upsurge in patriotism. In China, the Communist party is on the eve of a major shift at the top as President Hu Jintao and Prime Minister Wen Jiabao get ready to retire.
The succession seems to be a foregone conclusion, but divisions exist at the top. At the same time, the party is at its lowest point for public opinion, battered by a flood of scandals involving corruption and abuses.
In Japan, the opposition Liberal Democratic Party has a slim lead in opinion polls over Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's Democratic Party of Japan.
This may explain why two Japanese cabinet ministers yesterday visited the Yasukuni Shrine, which honours 2.5 million Japanese war dead, including 14 war criminals from the Second World War.
Each visit boosts Japanese patriotism, but elicits a wave of criticism from countries that suffered Japanese occupation.
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